Current Projects
Town of Berthoud – Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Open Space Grant
The Town of Berthoud has applied to GOCO for funds to purchase a portion of the Heron Lakes property for use as open space. Partners in the application are Larimer County and the City of Loveland. The Heron Lakes property is a 722 -acre property with an approved plat located in the Town of Berthoud. The approved plat allows for 696 residential units, commercial development and a golf course. This overall project proposes protecting approximately 140 acres of the larger parcel with a potential combination of fee title, conservation and trail easements along with the purchase of recreation rights to an approximate 62 surface-acre lake known as McNeil Reservoir. Because of the anticipated costs of purchasing an urban open space, Berthoud will phase the project in to two phases and will apply to GOCO for Phase II later this year.
Phase I of the project will include approximately 40 acres of the peninsula between McNeil, Lonetree and Welch Reservoirs. Phase II will include all remaining land along the shore of Lonetree Reservoir in a north-south strip and the recreation rights to McNeil Reservoir. See GOCO Open Space Proposal map.
Proposed uses for the 140-acre purchase (phases I and II) property include public trails and trailhead, along with wakeless public boating and fishing on McNeil Reservoir. Interior trails for future development in phase I are shown on the GOCO Open Space Proposal map and wildlife viewing stations are also proposed near the heron rookery in phase I, and at the north end of Lonetree Reservoir in phase II.
The Town of Berthoud application for phase I of the project has been submitted to Great Outdoors Colorado. The Town should hear from GOCO regarding the application by approx. June 14, 2011.
